That Old Year

The year started off with the birth of one of my best friend's children, Lindley. Lindley's birth is significant because we spend a lot of time with Jennifer's family, and with her on maternity leave I had nothing to do at work except work.

The next big event was the tearing out of our kitchen and floors. We had just moved a couple of months earlier so it was with much heartache that my big pregnant ass packed the house up for a second time to either move all the furniture to add the wood floors or to totally demolish the kitchen.

Since things were going pretty smoothly, lets throw in a tornado and 5 days of no power. I was 7 month pregnant when the tornado hit. I was hunkered in the basement while Mr. T. was trying to put his computer together. It was pretty scary for him and a big shock to us to see the damage it caused in our neighborhood. We were luckily that only one tree fell in our backyard. We were also lucky there were no injuries or deaths.

The kitchen continued to be put in at a snails pace. A week after the cabinets were in the guy came out to measure our counters. When it had been 2 weeks and the counters were not in I said "I am one week away from having a baby. I really really need to have a sink."

In April my Father moved in with us to start his new job at the airport. My parents moved down completely in May. Guess what else happened in May? I welcomed my beautiful son into the world. A couple of days later we were visited by my Aunt Genie and Uncle Jared. Later that month Mr T. made a trip to NYC with his brother. His brother, Uncle Gunk, eventually found his way to Arkansas where he stayed for a short time buying up half of Dillards and Belk.

In the summer, I had maternity leave which means I had the summer off! I continued to work on contractors for the house having trees taken down and more floors put in. We took a trip to Portland. I had finished my Master's paper by the time work rolled around again in August.

August and September Aunty A and Grannie were here. We had a hurricane and more days without power. We also took a trip in our new MINIVAN.

In October we went to Colorado so I could do my exit interview. November was a blur and well... we all know about December. We had new windows put in and more trees taken out. I also did my first post baby half marathon.

We had other visitors this year, but I can't place the dates. My friends Vanessa and Keren both moved. They had children very close to peanut's age. It is harder to see the children move because you know you won't be there as they grow older. I know Peanut misses Fish and Fasu.

On the bright side, I made a whole lot of new friends and got to know some other people I already knew better. We started a new school that peanut likes, and Mr. T. and I are both happy and comfortable in our jobs.

I felt like this year was spent trying to get my footing. I don't think that is bad because I knew it would be like that. I had a lot of things starting and ending this year which is why I am so optimistic (and relaxed) about next year.

I don't foresee the giant upheaval in my life that I knew was going to happen this year. If it all works out, I will be writing this same post next year from Australia telling you guys how great everything is going to be in 2010.

The Floater - and other short stories

Baby P has poo'd twice in the bathtub in three days. I don't think my bathtub has ever been this clean (or at least cleaned this frequently).

Baby P has also learned to clap. That can be chalked up to another milestone that I find incredibly adorable.

I just received another batch of 3 month clothes back from my friend. They are so cute. I really want to store them away in a box and never let them see the light of day. I also had an idea that I might make a quilt out of them like Sweet Juniper. In actuality, I will probably just pass them on again to a friend of mine. I crave a small baby to hold. This one is killing my back.

Peanut is obsessed with her birthday. She was insistent that I needed to bring something to school for her birthday. She was actually pretty angry when I told her that I would do it next week. She told everyone today at her friend's party that it was her birthday too. She even blew out the candles with the other little girl.

Two people today told me that Peanut was a girl who knew what she wanted. Two different people in two completely different situations. They were both right.

Christmas Video

Here is a little Christmas Video. It is probably boring to those who aren't family.

Opening the stocking




Opening presents from the Australians.



Peanut opening a present from Aunt Genie and Uncle Jared.

A List for the New Year.

Generally my resolutions are along the lines of give up cheetos or don't say F word in front of Peanut. This year the list in lengthy because it has been 10 years since I graduated college and most of what I had set out in my 10 year plan is done.

husband - check
two kids - check
masters - check
nice house - check
lots of initials after my name - check

I am not in school any more and I don't have any giant career goal that I am working towards. We have no major projects planned for the house this year. This year is going to be all about me and all about the things I want to do. When I first graduated college, I took 4 semesters of Spanish because I wanted to learn Spanish. After that, I started graduate school, racing, and having kids. I ran out of time to do things that are different because I was so busy doing the things I was doing.

But this year, this year is going to be different.

So here it goes. Resolutions for 2009.

1. Get Fine in '09. This resolution has a couple of parts. The first is to lose that last 5 pounds (or more) of baby weight. These last 5 pounds get me to the TOP of my desired weight range and I think they will be the hardest to lose. It will require eating less crap as snacks and lighter food during my meals. I, like most Americans, know what I need to do, I just need to do it. I hope that my training for the Little Rock half will do the trick, but right now, I am trying to avoid an reoccurring injury, so we will see.
The second part to "Get Fine in '09" is to try to care more about how I look when I go to work. I am going to take 10 minutes 3 times a week to put makeup on. I am also going to buy and USE eye cream.

2. Take Classes. I am going to take a digital camera class. I have already signed up for a Zumba class. I also hope to find a nice glass or clay class. There is also a class that you can take with your 3 year old on Saturday mornings at the Art Center. Something like that would be fun too. I also think I might start one of those Rosetta Stone courses and learn to speak some form of Chinese.

3. Do one BIG project by myself. I think this project is going to be building some cabinetry down in the basement for the playroom.

4. Autocross. So I am not really going to start autocrossing, but I am going to ask for a day on the weekend to myself every once in a while. I might use this day to go to Memphis and shop or maybe go on a nice hike with Meghan.

5. Project 365. I am going to take a picture a day. I have a website but haven't set it up yet.

6. Finish in February. Finish the sweater I started. Finish the kitchen and the baseboards. Finish all the little things around the house that I need to "get to".

7. Finances. This last year wrecked havoc on our finances. I took off work for 3 months with minimal salary and went part time after that. Mr. T. took off work for about 6 weeks. We bought a "new" vehicle. We added another kid to daycare. We threw a lot of money into the house. Luckily prior to this year, we had saved money for the house and for my maternity leave, but we still feel a little tight. Once we get our ends tied up on the house, we can refinance and save ourselves some money each month. I am also going to start working an hour more a day to increase our income. We need to get ourselves back on track financially. We need to start saving again and get back on budget.

I am really looking forward to the next year. Last year, although good, was pretty busy and very scheduled. Next year, I have only two things on my schedule, the rest is pretty open ended. I like that. I have some other things that I want to do like go camping with my family and those sorts of things. I wouldn't necessarily call them resolutions, but they are scribbled in at the bottom of the list.

The good thing about putting it all out on the internet is that I have to do them now. I even created my own label for this post so I can check it off. I expect my friends to hold me accountable and tease me mercilessly if I don't get these things done. I think the hardest to do is going to be Number 4 and 6.

What about you guys? Anything new and different as a resolution?

A Perfect Day

Today was a great day. It was my thirty third birthday. At my house, Christmas is in the morning, and my birthday is in the afternoon. Well, kinda. We have Christmas, then I tear into my birthday presents and let people do my work the rest of the day.

It sure is nice. I tried to be off of diaper duty, but poor Baby P was hurting for some diaper changing by the end of the day so I ended up doing it anyway. I did have my birthday dinner while not sitting next to any kids. BUT, I did end up helping with both of them anyway. You can shurk what you love I guess. I complain about them, but in the end, I really like being a mom.

Mr. T. cleaned the house. Mom did all the cooking and a good sum of the cleaning. I took a short nap in the morning and a better one in the afternoon. I went for a bike ride with my husband. I played with my kids. I put a ban on children's programming. I watched what I wanted to watch which did not include anything Disney or on PBS. My friend Jen and her family came over for pie. It was relaxing and nice. I feel very tired but very happy.

The funny thing about turning 33 is that I can no longer fake being in my twenties. I am way past that. I am pretty much in mid thirties. It is weird to think about. I am pretty excited about the coming year. I have in mind some classes that I want to take. I received a lot of good books on architecture, so I plan on studying that a little too. The future is definitely bright, even if my age is showing up around my eyes.

Merry Christmas Internets

She doesn't sound really into making her brother laugh, does she.

Well, it is getting that time where Santa drags the presents out of the closet and places them under the tree.

Have I raged on about how ginger bread man shape is really hard to handle. ugh... Who thought of that? Peanut was insistent that Santa wanted ginger bread men. They taste really good, but they look really weird. After this picture, she told me 'Santa needs milk'. There was a long discussion on what type of glass Santa might like. He wanted one that was like mine.

It is a tradition for us to open one gift on Christmas eve. Baby P did better than I expected.

He is so cute. Even in pictures, I just want to eat him up.

And our little lady happily opening her book.

Santa threats haven't really been working too well on Peanut. No kind of threat really works on her. The best arsenal we have is telling her she is going to lose a story. Time outs... ugh... don't even get me started on them.

Tomorrow the indulgence increases. Then come the new year, well... that is another post.

Merry Christmas. Thank you so much for joining us this last year. I hope you are warm and safe tonight.

Drama on the Streets

It is icy here. YUCK. I got the van sideways but avoided an accident. I also avoided hitting the person in front of me. HURRAY.

My mom, she wasn't so lucky. She was rear ended this morning, so it has been exciting trying to get her worked out.

In other news, Peanut's breathing and coughing is starting to sound funny again. These funny sounds are the ones that ended up with us in the emergency room last summer. I started her on the albuteral. Even if it clears it up, I am still going to talk about asthma at her 3 year appointment.

The Christmas packages are wrapped, and the stocking stuffers are bought. I unwrapped all of Santa's gifts because I wanted to rewrap them in "SCIENCE LADIES" wrapping paper. The young master's presents are wrapped in pooh. (appropriate considering what we just went through).

Christmas Party

Evidently I am a CDC party groupie. (Really, I forgot to make the treats the night before and I was home anyway with babyP, so we went to pick her up and drop off the treats) Here are some picks from Peanut's Christmas party. I had some help taking these pictures so if they are askew, he can thank my little camera man.

I can't wait to see what this little girl is like when she grows up. She loves animals. She always has a least one plastic animal in her hand. She is also really strong willed. She didn't want to put her covers up, so for 20 minutes, she wasn't allowed to sit down and eat her treats. She is also going to be drop dead gorgeous.

Someone with lots of "curlies" just had a brother and "he has a head." This little girl is super sweet.

This is peanut's partner in crime. She has grown up a lot under their new teacher. She is a much more please little child. Peanut is always talking about her.

I would also like to see this little boy grow up. She is so funny. He really reminds me of this boy I knew when I was growing up. She was always smaller than everyone else but everyone liked him.

And of course, my favorite Reindeer. She had to wear her "candy cane dress".

Letting Go

Peanut stayed the night with her grandmother the other night. This is significant because it is the first time I have ever let her stay the night with someone other than me (if you don't count the baby's birth).

We talked it up all the week before. She would tell me "I want to stay the night at grandma's house tonight." or "right now" depending on how cooperative she was feeling.

So here she is getting ready.

And here she is getting ready to leave.

I am glad we waited as long as we did. There were no tears on either end. I was relaxed and enjoyed the evening. I didn't even start dinner until 6.

Peanut had a great time with her grandparents. We had a nice conversation before bed and another one when she woke up. It was great!

The Diaheria Diaries

Poor Baby P. He has had a rough go lately. He woke up vomiting Saturday night. It didn't last long, but the diaheria, man, that has lasted a while. The thing is, he doesn't seem ill. He was cranky yesterday morning, but I think that is because he woke up so early. ugh....

so he has been home all week. We took him to the doctor on Friday. They told me that it just has to run its course, which is what I hoped they would tell me. He is starting to eat a little off the spoon, but I think he would rather just eat with his hands. So today i am going to make him some stewed apples to go with his cheerios.

Poor baby. At least it never got too awful and he was never really all that cranky.

Notice his hand on the camera. He has been helping me take pictures lately.

About that little Girl

The hard thing about blogging is that I get all of these things in my mind that I need to write , but they are just really little tidbits of information that need to be formed into a post. I am pretty good at writing down conversations or instances, but I don't think I am very good at capturing the whole character of the short humans who lives with us.

So I am going to try.

This is a funny stage right now. Peanut is no longer a baby or a toddler. She is a little girl. She has opinions and fantasies. She knows exactly what she wants.

"I had a good nap. What should we do now?" she says to us as she bounds into our room in the morning.
"I don't know. What do you want to do?" we answer all blurry eyed.
"Watch TV, I suppose".

She is also starting to be all sass. If I ask her to do something that she doesn't want to do she says No. She doesn't say it in a way that is meant to hurt my feelings, but just wants me to know. No. "No, i don't want to." "Uhm, I didn't ask if you wanted to.", is usually my very clever reply.

If she doesn't want to do something, she will take a really long time doing what I ask. It is a bit of a game for her because we can't really say that she isn't listening, but she knows she is still pushing our buttons.

Then there is the milestone that we have all been waiting for, she has discovered her imagination. She will tell me, "you are the momma bee and he is the baby bee and I am the big sister bee.". We all get to act like little bees. She also likes to tell us funny jokes. "The cats says mmmooooo." There is also the various bits of items to be used as hats or to be stuck on her nose. "Oh sweet peanut, you are sooo silly," I say to her as she beams at me. The other side of her imagination is that she has started lying. I hear that they lie because they want something to be true, not necessarily because they are trying to deceive you. It does make me a little weary because sometime, I can't tell where the truth lies.

She has developed an independent streak lately. If she is hungry, she will get into the cabinets and get something out for herself. If she is done with a snack, she will put her snack bowl in the freezer. The independent streak is something that we will need to learn to manage. I can't have her reaching up on the counter and dragging things off all the time. I don't want her helping herself to snacks, because I don't want her to ruin her dinner. I also don't want her to turn on the TV and just sit in front of it. The upshot of her independence is that she is starting to be able to entertain herself better downstairs while I get things together upstairs.

She is also very helpful around the house. If we want her to do something, she will. She loves to help me cook, almost to the point that it is annoying. (sometimes you just want to fix dinner without also being a coach). She will help me with Baby P and get clothes or things when we have a spill.

She is very crafty and likes to make things and paint. The crafts are something we have had a fun time with lately.

She shows great concern for her brother, but I can see that she is starting to get a bit more competitive with him. I am hesitant to say jealous because I don't know if it is that or if she just wants to be in control. She has started taking toys out of his hands. He will protest, and eventually she gives them back. She tries to help with him in any way she can, but it is hard for her because he weighs so much. She does like to cuddle him. She fell the other day and wanted a hug from her baby to make her feel better.

"Whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, did that man do that?" Oh the Whys. I find it endearing (right now). I think it is fun to answer the 20 questions that I get asked on the way to school Maybe it is the scientist in me that loves to explain why things are the way they are. Sometimes, she stumps me. Sometimes I don't want to answer "WWHHHHHHHHIIIIIIeeeee, are those men throwing rocks at that house?" She asked when we were listening to NPR, who was running a news clip about the house in Palestine that some settlers bought. "I don't know, honey. I guess there was a fight..." I try to answer all her questions, but somethings are better danced around.

It is a weird age because she is so big yet so small at the same time. She has a fiercely independent streak, but she also needs me to kiss owies and keep a routine for her. Sometimes, I want her to just leave me alone but other times I can't get enough of her constant questions and loving pats. She is a funny little girl. She makes us smile, even when she isn't trying. I am so glad she is mine.

Love Letter to a 7 month Old

Dear Baby P,

I can't believe you are 7 months old. I can't believe we have known you for only 7 months. On the other hand, I can't believe how time has flown. I was looking at pictures the other day of you after your birth. You were so little. Now, you fill out most 18 month clothes, have a smile that can brighten a room, and a laughter that is infectious.

You love to laugh. My memory of your early days will always be a blur of laughter. You stare at your sister to see what she is doing, and then you wait for her to make you laugh. She says "BOOO" and you erupt into giggles. You laugh and look around the room before settling your gaze back on your sister again waiting for the next "BOO". She always obliges, because she adores you. She also adores being told how great she is when she makes you laugh.

I wouldn't say you are mobile yet, but you are getting pretty close. You like to roll and turn to reach stuff. I can tell that you know there is something more you can do to reach stuff. You shimmy and turn from side to side to try to reach the object of your desire. It makes me proud to see you working so hard. I don't encourage your mobility, but I do love to see you trying so hard.

This month also marks the beginning of the boo-boos. You have bonked your head on the floor numerous times this month. You are pretty tough about it, which is good because at this house, we don't make a fuss over little owies. Your sister will sometimes be a little rough with you and cause you to hit your head. You usually end up crying when she is trying to "help" you. "Helping" you entails squishing your or choking you trying to get you back up into a seated position.

You have also become incredibly vocal this month. You are pretty polite about it. You won't talk if someone else is talking. You still don't say mama or dada but I do hear a lot of other sounds like L's and B's. I figured you would be a little late talking, especially when compared with your sister. You seem to exhibit a lot of the same personality traits as your father, and your father is a man of few words. Lord knows we could use fewer words around this house.

As always, you continue to be a joy to be around. You love to laugh and do things that make us laugh. You have a curiosity that insatiable, which I hope you never lose. You are always grabbing everything and trying to mouth things that shouldn't be put in your mouth. I know the good days are only beginning, but I think I will always miss this happy, laughing, staying in one spot phase.

Lots of love,

Your mum

Early Christmas

"The FEA has determined road conditions are hazardous today and the Federal Building will be closed.

We will meet again on Wednesday morning to determine the status for tomorrow."

HURRAY. I was going to have to stay home with Baby P anyway. HURRAY!!!

Vomitor Strikes Again

Poor Baby P. He was up last night vomiting. He went through 3 pairs of pajamas all around 10. Then he was up again early this morning with the same sour stomach. Luckily, he wasn't too aware that he was sick, so he was in pretty good spirits today. He was a little grumpy but nothing too horrid.

And my sweet Peanut. That is the one that has been pulling at my heartstrings. It is a sad day when my rowdy little girl would rather lay down on the couch than build a ginger bread house with CANDY and ICING. She was the one I was really worried about because she was so hot and lethargic. I was finally able to tempt her to eat with some popcorn.

So we did a lot of... cleaning today. All the bed linens newly washed in hot water.

Somehow Mr. T. and I aren't sick. We will see if it stays that way.

In other news, all the doors have been painted white covering the hideous green that was painted all over the house. Even with two coats of KILZ, there are still streaks in the paint. I don't care anymore. I just don't want to look at green doors with purple walls. Mr. T. also made another dent in the kitchen installing some lights in the cabinet with glass doors.

Baby P is all over the place these days. He can cover a lot of ground with his rolling. He has pulled his knees up under him, but doesn't quite know what to do. I am not encouraging his crawling.

She's not Stupid

Today, twice, peanut told me something was stupid.

The last time, she said, "Why did you get water on me? That was stupid." I told her sternly to go to her room before I busted into laughter on the inside. It made me laugh because she was so serious about it all.

I say to myself all the time that something is stupid. For example, if I do something dingy, I say "I'm so stupid". Whoops. I guess I need to pay closer attention to that. I just hope she isn't calling the teacher stupid or the kids at school.

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Peanut had been to her room twice this evening with one time out from her father. When we were putting in the movie, she came over and kissed me. She said "I am being a big sweetheart. "

I said to her "Yes, you are."

And she said, "I am not getting on your nerves anymore."

I didn't tell her she was getting on her nerves. In fact, I don't even remember her being on my nerves. It shook me a little to hear that. I told her she wasn't getting on my nerves, and we cuddled up on the couch.

I know she wants to do be a good girl all the time, but sometimes, she just has a hard time doing it.

Why 3 year olds Rule.

Today, as peanut was eating her dinner with her too small dinosaur costume on, she announced that I needed to put some music on.

When I put on the music in the kitchen, she started dancing by herself in her too small dinosaur costume.

After a couple of songs, I turned it off without asking. She reminded me that, she was still listening to it and asked for it to be back on.

Of course I obliged because it was pretty crummy of me to just turn it off, but really... how much Boyton music can a human really tolerate.

A lot, I guess.

Little Rock Half

Who plans on doing the Little Rock Half Marathon or some race of that sort? Rainbowmomma? Tired Doctor? Jen? Christy? Kristy? zozopdx? jill? missy? starchild? Aut? Cachingpixie? Rockandrolla?

I am calling you guys out. You can always walk part of it.

Megs and I are doing it. I think Mr. T. is going to run it too.

Do I have to say Chocolate Fountain to get you guys interested?

Advent Calendar

I made this Advent Calendar. It wasn't too difficult, but the thought of dragging out the sewing machine kept me sewing it up until tonight. I still need to add a few things, but until then, it at least kinda functions

Of course, once I started this, I found all sorts of cute ones at target.

So Lucky.

So we are taking down 7 more trees in our yard. That will be the last of the pines on this little half acre of heaven. If something does happen to fall on our house in the next storm, it isn't because we didn't spend tons money trying to avoid having that the problem.

On Saturday I ran in the St. Judes half marathon. I have a lot of emotion tied up in that race. First I want to give big hugs to Meghan how helped me through. She drove me there and didn't mind that I had to do a little pumping before the race. She pretty much dragged me the last 3 miles or so. She didn't want to walk at all, but I did so she did. She rules. We will be doing more of these together.

I was pretty miserable. I have a pretty nasty sinus infection. Well, at least I think it is nasty. I feel a little like someone is shoving a chop stick up my nose and maybe one into my ear. I was also really really cold. When I looked at the temperature at 11 in the van, it was 41 and that was with the sun shining. I think I should have trained more, but, I also think the first race is always the hardest (and this is my first race post babies). The next one won't be so bad.

But why was the St Judes half so emotional.?The race benefits the St. Judes Research Hospital which treats children with cancer at no cost to the parents. There was a calender with sick children in our race packet. There were children along the race sidelines. The announcer's daughter was sick. There were little stories about children who had died along the sidelines on signs. One of the ladies in front of me was running in memory of someone who died in December 2008. No matter how I tried to hide my face from it, I came to the realization that this hospital is a benefit to the people who need it, sick children and their parents.

As a mom, I have the luxury of forgetting that people's children die. I have the luxury of not knowing what it is like for someone to assign statistics to my child life. It is a bit jarring to realize that this happens. It didn't bother me as much before I became a mom. I just can't imagine. I can't imagine hearing cancer from a doctor and the wondering if and when my baby was going to die. I can't imagine trying to make the siblings life normal while the sick child is attended to. It was all just a bit overwhelming to me.

And frankly, a bit hard to deal with.

We did have a nice time. The race was really well organized and the support and crowds were great. The course was interesting and varied.

I had to rush off at the end of the race because my two perfect and healthy children needed to get out of the cold. Neither one of the kids wanted to nap in the hotel, but I had the luxury of holding each of them while they fell asleep. I was tired and sick and just wanted to sleep so bad myself, but I just felt so lucky that my children were energetic and wild.

Even with a nasty sinus infection, I just feel so lucky.

A couple of things.

Peanut this morning asked us "why did someone knock down my Christmas Tree?"

And sure enough, the Christmas tree was on its side. I didn't go into the whole long ordeal of how long it took to get the thing up. So this is our poor Christmas tree most of the day. Luckily, only the ornaments that I didn't mind breaking broke. It all worked out for the best because evidently the tree stand had a HOLE IN IT.

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This morning on the way to school, Peanut said "I had a nice nap, but the sun... the sun.. didn't have a nice nap." (all sleeps are naps)
"Why?"
"The sun, he... he doesn't have a house".

Even when I said the sun was okay because he was used to sleeping outside, she wasn't buying it. He needed a house.

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And there is this little guy.

This was taken yesterday when I was laying him down for a nap. He didn't want to go to sleep and was smiling and playing. Someone forgot to tell him that he was ill.

Today he was in good spirits. He slept well last night and refused to sleep today. He is so cute. I could just eat his cheeks up.

Too Much Like his sister

He never had a fever, but I still had a sneaking suspicion that my littlest had an ear infection. I trip to the doctor confirmed that the ear he has been pulling on for a couple of days is infected. The doctor put him on antibiotics. I put him on yogurt.

I hope this isn't the first in a long chain. I can say that he won't have as many as his sister. I am giving him 3 before I seek a consult with an ENT for tubes. Peanut was almost 6 months old when she got her first ear infection, so at least we made it a month longer.